It’s not unusual to come up with a list of rules for your friends and family to adhere to in order to meet a newborn baby. Things such as being fully up to date with your vaccinations, not stopping by unannounced, and hand washing are totally reasonable requests when visiting a brand-new human.
But one couple has taken their list of requirements too far, with demands for takeaway food, gift cards and free labour forming part of their strict rules before they are allowed to meet their firstborn child.
It all started out well, with a reasonable lineup of deal breakers. Some might be considered a little extreme, but hey ho, over-protective new parents and all that!
- up to date on ALL vaccines
- if you feel any way sick don’t visit
- let us know a week beforehand so we can arrange a day/time
- no smokers
- no phone calls or visits between 7:30pm-10 pm
- you can only stay an hour
- no picking up the baby without consent
- no advice
- no perfume/deodorant
- no is no, we won’t explain why
- no pictures to be taken or posted on social media
But then things took a little turn for the extortionate…
- if you visit the first time you will be expected to give mum (me) a gift card and a gift for baby from our approved list
- before you ever come, no matter how many times, you will be given a list of either food or groceries to bring with you AND a chore from a list of your choosing
- no more than two visits a week per person
This issue came to a head when the couple refused to allow the man’s college-student sister to meet her nephew because she couldn’t afford to meet their strict rules financially, even though she offered to clean their entire house!
Ultimately, the couple rejected their younger family member’s pleas and as a result, they are no longer on speaking terms.
Not much point in having loads of rules if there are no longer any friends or family willing to put up with them, is there?
